Consolidated seat back breakover mechanism

ABSTRACT

Described is a breakover mechanism for a passenger seat that includes a frame member with a rear portion attached to two opposing sides of a seat back of the passenger seat wherein the frame member is at least partially disposed under a seat pan of the passenger seat, at least one moving portion attached to a forward portion of the frame member, a carriage portion fixedly attached to the seat pan; and a single point mechanism attached to the carriage portion. Once a threshold loading condition occurs, the single point mechanism changes states to facilitate movement of the moving portion relative to the carriage portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority benefit from U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/217,314 (“the '314 application”), filedon Sep. 11, 2015, entitled INERTIAL BREAKOVER MECHANISM and U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/306,301 (“the '301 application”), filedon Mar. 10, 2016, entitled MONO PIN SEAT BACK BREAKOVER MECHANISM. The'314 and '301 applications are hereby incorporated in their entiretiesby this reference.

This application incorporates by reference the disclosure of a copendingPCT patent application. The copending PCI patent application is“INERTIAL BREAKOVER MECHANISM,” PCT Application No. PCT/US2016/038393,to Murray et al., filed on Jun. 20, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates ergonomic lie-flat passenger seatsfor aircraft or the like.

BACKGROUND

Passenger seats, and particularly vehicle or aircraft passenger seats,are designed to ensure passenger safety for various loading conditionsincluding, for example, hard landings and crash conditions. In someinstances, regulatory and/or governmental requirements dictate thatseats comply with occupant protection/head impact tests. The generalintent is that the seat has a joint or mechanism designed to rotate theseatback forward during an impact, such that when a passenger from a rowbehind the seat moves forward (due to rapid deceleration of the vehicleor aircraft), the impact forces between the passenger's head and theseat can be reduced. Reducing head accelerations/decelerations and therelated forces decrease the likelihood of head trauma and head injuries.However, the seats must also withstand typical non-crash load abuse,such as passengers leaning heavily against the seat, using the seat as abrace, and other non-crash loading conditions.

Many seatbacks are attached to a stable quadrant arm on each side of aseat frame. In order to meet head impact criteria testing, the seat isdesigned to distribute head impact loads from the seat back to shearpins on both sides of the seat back. The shear pins constrain rotationof the back relative to the quadrant arms until impact. At impact, theshear pins serve as a break over device, designed to fail during animpact event and to allow the back to rotate forward. This can reducehead accelerations. However, shear pins have strict limits on breakoutforce and timing because they must be strong enough to survive staticloading and can only allow break over when impact loads exceed theultimate load on both pins. The challenge is often that because theshear pins must withstand general abuse loads, they may be so strong asto require excessive acceleration in order to break/shear properly.However, if the strength of the frangible joint/shear pin is reduced,the seat may not be strong enough to withstand expected general abuseloads. For example, some of the current seat designs have problemsduring 10 degree impact events, when asymmetrical loading on the backrequires high rigidity in the back structure to transfer sufficientloads to both shear pins. In general, a shear pin break over devicenecessitates a highly reinforced seatback structure that is rigid enoughto predictably transmit loads to both quadrant arms, but also cushionedto reduce head accelerations on initial impact. In some cases, despite arigid structure for a seat back, loads distributed to a quadrant arm onone side are significantly different than load distributed to a secondquadrant arm of the second side of the seat. Such a structuralarrangement can add weight to the seatback structure, and can requirecostly iterations of testing.

In certain situations, it may be desirable to design seats toefficiently, predictably, and repeatably rotate the seatback forwardduring crash or other loading conditions.

SUMMARY

The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “thepresent invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly toall of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below.Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit thesubject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of thepatent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patentare defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is ahigh-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introducessome of the concepts that are further described in the DetailedDescription section below. This summary is not intended to identify keyor essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intendedto be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subjectmatter. The subject matter should be understood by reference toappropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any orall drawings and each claim.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a breakovermechanism for a passenger seat comprises: a frame member with a rearportion attached to two opposing sides of a seat back of the passengerseat wherein the frame member is at least partially disposed under aseat pan of the passenger seat; at least one moving portion attached toa forward portion of the frame member; a carriage portion fixedlyattached to the seat pan; and a single point mechanism attached to thecarriage portion wherein, once a threshold loading condition occurs, thesingle point mechanism changes states to facilitate movement of themoving portion relative to the carriage portion.

In some embodiments, the threshold loading condition comprises a crashcondition.

The single point mechanism, in certain embodiments, comprises a tensionpin. In certain embodiments, the tension pin comprises a first endattached to the carriage portion and a second end attached to the atleast one moving portion.

The tension pin, in certain embodiments, comprises a notch and thetension pin changes states when the tension pin fails under a tensileload.

In some embodiments, the at least one moving portion slides in afore/aft direction of the passenger seat relative to the carriageportion.

In certain embodiments, the carriage portion comprises protrusions thatengage corresponding channels of the at least one moving portion suchthat the protrusions slide through the channels in the fore/afterdirection.

The at least one moving portion, in certain embodiments, comprises a lugfitting that engages a clevis fitting of the frame member. In someembodiments, the lug fitting comprises a spherical bearing for engaginga pin attached to the clevis fitting.

An engagement between the lug fitting and the clevis fitting, in certainembodiments, comprises a first primary fastener and a second failsafefastener.

In certain embodiments, the single point mechanism comprises an inertiaweight assembly. The inertia weight assembly, in some embodiments,comprises a pivoting arm, a weight disposed at a first end of thepivoting arm, a roller at a second end of the pivoting arm, and a pivotpoint disposed between the first end and the second end.

In some embodiments, the inertia weight assembly changes states when theweight moves forward due to the threshold loading condition and causingthe pivoting arm to rotate about the pivot point.

In certain embodiments, the at least one moving portion comprises twopivot arms that each rotate about a vertical axis of the passenger seatrelative to the carriage portion.

The at least one moving portion, in certain embodiments, comprises twopivot arms that each comprise a rear slot that interfaces with the framemember.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a passengerseat comprises: a seat back comprising an upper portion and a lowerportion; a seat pan; and a breakover mechanism configured to facilitaterotation of the seat back, wherein the breakover mechanism comprises: aframe member with a rear portion attached to two opposing sides of thelower portion of the seat back wherein the frame member is at leastpartially disposed under the seat pan; a slide rail attached to aforward portion of the frame member; a slide carriage fixedly attachedto the seat pan; and a tension pin attached to a rear side of the slidecarriage wherein, once a threshold loading condition occurs, the tensionpin changes states to facilitate movement of the slide rail relative tothe slide carriage.

In some embodiments, the tension pin comprises a first end attached tothe slide carriage and a second end attached to the slide rail.

The tension pin, in certain embodiments, comprises a notch and thetension pin changes states when the tension pin fails under a tensileload.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a passengerseat comprises: a seat back comprising an upper portion and a lowerportion; a seat pan; and a breakover mechanism configured to facilitaterotation of the seat back, wherein the breakover mechanism comprises: aframe member with a rear portion attached to two opposing sides of thelower portion of the seat back wherein the frame member is at leastpartially disposed under the seat pan; two pivot arms that are eachattached to a forward portion of the frame member; a carriage framefixedly attached to the seat pan; and an inertia weight assemblyattached to the carriage frame wherein, once a threshold loadingcondition occurs, the inertia weight assembly changes states tofacilitate movement of the two pivot arms relative to the carriageframe.

In certain embodiments, the inertia weight assembly comprises a pivotingarm, a weight disposed at a first end of the pivoting arm, a roller at asecond end of the pivoting arm, and a pivot point disposed between thefirst end and the second end.

The inertia weight assembly, in some embodiments, changes states whenthe weight moves forward due to the threshold loading condition andcausing the pivoting arm to rotate about the pivot point.

In some embodiments, the breakover mechanism comprises a first link anda second link; and the breakover mechanism comprises a retractedconfiguration where the first and second links are parallel with oneanother.

The inertia weight assembly, in certain embodiments, presses a hingebetween the first and second links to move the breakover mechanism fromthe retracted configuration to a deployed configuration where the firstand second links are nonparallel with one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a passenger seat according to certainembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 1A with theseat pan shown transparent.

FIG. 2 is a detail perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 5 is a detail perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 1A in theretracted configuration.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 1A in thedeployed configuration.

FIG. 7A is a top view of a passenger seat according to certainembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a bottom view of the passenger seat of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 is a detail perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 9 is a detail perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 10 is a detail perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 11 is a detail perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is describedhere with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but thisdescription is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of theclaims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, mayinclude different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction withother existing or future technologies. This description should not beinterpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among orbetween various steps or elements except when the order of individualsteps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described.

FIGS. 1A-6B illustrate embodiments of passenger seats with breakovermechanisms 100 and FIGS. 7A-11 illustrate embodiments of passenger seatswith breakover mechanisms 200. In these embodiments, the passenger seatmay include a seat pan 10, a seat back 20, a forward lateral beam 11, anaft lateral beam 12, a first seat frame member 13, and a second seatframe member 14.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a passenger seat such that the seat pan 10 istransparent in FIG. 1B allowing the breakover mechanism 100, which, insome embodiments, is located under the seat pan 10, to be visible.Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 7A-8, the breakover mechanism 200 may alsobe located under the seat pan 10. Breakover mechanism 100 and breakovermechanism 200 each distribute loads from both sides of the seat back 20through a frame member (frame 104 or frame 204) and a moving portion(slide rail 102 or pivot arm 202) and consolidate the loads into asingle mechanism or a single point mechanism (tension pin 103 or inertiaweight assembly 203), which may be located under the seat pan 10, tofacilitate pivoting of the seat back 20. Breakover mechanism 100 andbreakover mechanism 200 each include a carriage portion (slide carriage101 or carriage frame 201) that, in some embodiments, is fixedlyattached to the seat pan 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the breakover mechanism 100 may include a slidecarriage 101, a slide rail 102, a tension pin 103, a frame 104, and alimit plate 105. In some embodiments, the slide carriage 101 interfaceswith a recline gas strut 106 (see strut mount 101.3 in FIG. 5). Theslide carriage 101, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, may include one or moreattachment holes 101.1 for attaching the slide carriage 101 to the seatpan 10. As one example, FIG. 5 shows a square pattern of four attachmentholes 101.1; however, the slide carriage 101 may include any number ofattachment holes 101.1 in any appropriate pattern (i.e., rectangular,circular, triangular, trapezoidal, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.).

The lateral edges of the slide carriage 101, as shown in FIG. 5, mayinclude protrusions 101.2 configured to slide in corresponding channels102.1 in slide rail 102. In some embodiments, the slide rail 102 mayinclude protrusions that slide in channels located in the slide carriage101. As one example, FIG. 5 shows that the protrusions 101.2 have acylindrical or partially-cylindrical cross section that is constantalong the length of the protrusions 101.2. However, the protrusions101.2 may have any appropriate shape that facilitates consistentmovement of the slide carriage 101 along the length of the slide rail102. For example, the protrusions 101.2 may have an oval, elliptical,dovetail, polygonal, or any other appropriate cross sectional shape.Further, the protrusions 101.2 may be configured with a cross-sectionthat changes along the length of the protrusion 101.2. For example, theprotrusions 101.2 may taper larger or smaller, and the correspondingchannels 102.1 of the slide rail 102 may include a matching taper or asimilar taper.

As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 104 includes attachment points 104.1 forattaching to both sides of the lower portion of the seat back 20. Whenloading conditions cause the upper portion of the seat back to moveforward and pivot the seat back to cause the lower portion of the seatback to move rearward (such as a head impact during a crash condition),the frame 104 is pulled toward the rear of the seat (toward the top leftportion of FIG. 2). The forward portion of the frame 104 is attached tothe slide rail 102.

The attachment between the frame 104 and the slide rail 102, which isshown in FIG. 4, may include one or more fastened joints. For example,the frame may include a clevis fitting 104.2 configured to interfacewith a lug fitting 102.3 from the slide rail 102. In some embodiments,the frame 104 may include a lug and the slide rail 102 may include aclevis. As shown in FIG. 4, the lug fitting 102.3 may include a firsthole 102.4 for interfacing with a first fastener 107. The first hole102.4 and the first fastener 107 may be arranged such that the axialdirection of each is arranged approximately parallel to the lateraldirection of the seat. In some embodiments, the first hole 102.4 may beconfigured to secure a spherical bearing 109. The presence of thespherical bearing 109 introduces an extra degree of freedom to reducethe transfer of lateral forces from the frame 104 to the slide rail 102.In other words, if one side of the seat back 20 transfers more forceinto the frame 104 (e.g., due to a nonsymmetrical loading condition,such as a non-centered head impact), the frame 104 may include somelateral or twisting forces (in addition to fore/aft forces) relative tothe seat.

The spherical bearing 109 reduces the transmittal of any lateral ortwisting forces into the slide rail 102, which reduces potential bindingbetween the protrusions 101.2 and the corresponding channels 102.1 ofthe slide rail 102. The spherical bearing 109 also ensures that theloads transferred from the slide rail 102 to the tension pin 103 areprimarily or exclusively tensile forces.

As shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the interface between the frame104 and the slide rail 102 includes a second fastener 108. The secondfastener 108 may interface with a second hole 102.5 of the slide rail102. In certain embodiments, the second hole 102.5 is a slotted hole(elongated in the fore/aft direction of the seat) such that, unless thefirst fastener 107 and/or the spherical bearing 109 fail, no fore/aftloads are transferred through the second fastener 108. In other words,the second fastener 108 and second hole 102.5 function as a failsafe forthe first fastener 107 (i.e., the primary fastener). In addition, thesecond fastener 108 prevents the frame 104 and slide rail 102 fromrotating relative to one another about the axis of the first fastener107. To prevent such rotation, the second fastener 108 contacts theupper and/or lower surface of the second hole 102.5.

When a force is applied to the upper portion of the seat back 20 (oneexample of such a force is a head impact from a passenger located behindthe seat), the seat back 20 pivots such that the frame 104 is pulledtoward the rear of the seat. As described above, loads are transferredfrom the frame 104 through the spherical bearing 109 into the slide rail102 such that the loads transferred into the slide rail 102 areprimarily or exclusively in the fore/aft direction (no lateral forcesare transferred into the slide rail). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, theslide rail 102 may include channels 102.1 that correspond to theprotrusions 101.2 of the slide carriage 101 such that the interfacebetween the channels 102.1 and protrusions 101.2 constrain movement inall directions other than along the length of the protrusions 101.2,which approximately corresponds to the fore/aft direction of the seat.The slide carriage 101 is fixed to the seat pan 10 (via the one or moreattachment holes 101.1), but the slide rail 102 is free to slidefore/aft relative to the slide carriage 101, except for the tension pin103. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the tension pin 103 attaches theslide carriage 101 to the center section 102.2 of the slide rail 102. Insome embodiments, the tension pin 103 includes a notch 103.1 with areduced cross-sectional area compared to the remaining portion of thepin. The tension pin 103 is designed to fail due to a known appliedforce (i.e., a threshold load) tailored to the breakover mechanism 100.The tension pin 103 may be configured to fail at a known force due tothe notch 103.1 and/or specific material properties of the tension pin103. In other words, the tension pin 103 may be configured without anotch. In addition to consolidating the loads from both sides of theseat back 20 to a single location at the tension pin 103, tensilefailures are more documented and more predictable than shear failures.

After the designed failure of the tension pin 103, the slide rail 102 isfree to slide relative to the slide carriage 101. The slide rail 102 istypically secured in the static or retracted configuration shown inFIGS. 5 and 6A where the seat back 20 is in the retracted position 20 a,the frame 104 is in the retracted position 104 a, and slide rail 102 isin the retracted position 102 a. As shown in FIG. 6B, after the tensionpin 103 fails, the seat back 20 may pivot to a deployed position 20 b,the frame 104 may move rearward to a deployed position 104 b, and theslide rail 102 may move rearward to a deployed position 102 b. Thedeployed position 102 b of the slide rail 102 may be dictated by thelimit plate 105 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). In some embodiments, the deployedposition 102 b of the slide rail 102 may be dictated by the range ofmotion of the seat back 20.

As shown in FIGS. 7A-8, the breakover mechanism 200 may include acarriage frame 201, one or more pivot arms 202, an inertia weightassembly 203, a frame 204, one or more sliding pins 205, a first link207, and a second link 208. In some embodiments, the carriage frame 201interfaces with a recline gas strut 206 (see strut mount 201.3 in FIGS.7B and 10). The carriage frame 201, as shown in FIG. 9, may include oneor more attachment holes 201.1 for attaching the carriage frame 201 tothe seat pan 10. As one example, FIG. 9 shows a square pattern of fourattachment holes 201.1; however, the carriage frame 201 may include anynumber of attachment holes 201.1 in any appropriate pattern (i.e.,rectangular, circular, triangular, trapezoidal, pentagonal, hexagonal,etc.).

In some embodiments, the two rear holes of the carriage frame 201 eachform a pivot 201.2 to allow each pivot arm 202 to rotate about the pivot201.2. In some embodiments, the pivot arms 202 each rotate about an axisthat is approximately vertical with respect to the seat. Each pivot arm202 also includes a link attachment 202.2 and a rear slot 202.1. Asshown in FIG. 10, the left side pivot arm 202(L) includes a linkattachment 202.2 for attaching to the first link 207 and the right sidepivot arm 202(R) includes a link attachment 202.2 for attaching to thesecond link 208. As shown in FIGS. 8-10, each rear slot 202.1 attachesto a sliding pin 205 that is inserted into a hole 204.2 of the frame204. The hole 204.2 and the sliding pin 205 may be arranged such thatthe axial direction of each is arranged approximately parallel to thevertical direction of the passenger seat.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the frame 204 includes attachment points204.1 for attaching to both sides of the lower portion of the seat back20. When loading conditions cause the upper portion of the seat back tomove forward and pivot the seat back to cause the lower portion of theseat back to move rearward (such as a head impact during a crashcondition), the frame 204 is pulled toward the rear of the seat (towardthe top left portion of FIG. 8). The forward portion of the frame 204 isattached to the pivot arms 202.

The seat back 20 and frame 204 are typically secured in the static orretracted position shown in FIGS. 7A-8 where the first and second links207 and 208 are parallel with one another (i.e., the retractedconfiguration of the breakover mechanism 200). In this retractedconfiguration, any loads transferred from the frame 204 into the pivotarms 202 through the sliding pins 205 are offset by forces/loads appliedto the link attachments 202.2 by the first and second links 207 and 208.In some embodiments, the loads transferred from the frame 204 into thepivot arms 202 through the sliding pins 205 are in the fore/aftdirection of the seat and the loads applied to the link attachments202.2 by the first and second links 207 and 208 are in the lateraldirection of the passenger seat. In the retracted configuration, thepivot arms 202 are static such that the sliding pins 205 are disposedadjacent to the inner edges of the rear slots 202.1 of the pivot arms202.

The inertia weight assembly 203 includes a pivoting arm that includes aweight 203.1 at a first end of the pivoting arm and a roller 203.2 at asecond end of the pivoting arm. In response to a known or thresholdloading condition, the inertia weight assembly 203 rotates about a pivotpoint 203.3 and activates the breakover mechanism 200 independent offorces applied directly to the seat back 20. For example, a knownacceleration or deceleration in the fore/aft direction causing a g-load(i.e., a threshold load), forces the weight 203.1 to move forward. Theforward movement of the weight 203.1 causes the inertia weight assembly203 to rotate about the pivot point 203.3 such that roller 203.2 pressesagainst the hinge between the first and second links 207 and 208. Thebreakover mechanism 200 may be calibrated by adjusting the weight 203.1such as changing the number and size of the weights assembled on theweight 203.1. In some embodiments, hinge between the first and secondlinks 207 and 208 includes a spring 209 configured to bias the hingetoward the retracted and/or the deployed configuration.

FIG. 9 shows the breakover mechanism 200 immediately after the roller203.2 presses the hinge between the first and second links 207 and 208,which causes the first and second links 207 and 208 to rotate relativeto one another (such that the first and second links 207 and 208 are nolonger parallel with one another). The rotation of the first and secondlinks 207 and 208 also allows the pivot arms 202 to rotate about thepivot 201.2. Once the roller 203.2 presses against the hinge between thefirst and second links 207 and 208 and begins the rotation of the pivotarms 202, any loads pulling the frame 204 toward the rear of the seat(i.e., head impact forces during a crash that cause the upper portion ofthe seat back 10 to push forward and the lower portion of the seat back10 to move rearward) also cause rotation of the pivot arms 202. Forexample, in some embodiments, a slight rotation of the pivot arms 202causes the outer edges of the rear slots 202.1 to move toward the rearof the seat such that loads directed toward the rear of the seat throughthe frame 204 cause the sliding pins 205 to move toward the outer edgesof the rear slots 202.1 (due to rotation of the pivot arms 202 andrearward movement of the frame 204).

FIG. 10 shows an approximation of a halfway point between the retractedconfiguration (FIGS. 7A-8) and the deployed configuration (FIG. 11). InFIG. 10, the sliding pins 205 are disposed approximately halfway betweenthe inner and the outer edges of the rear slots 202.1 of the pivot arms202. The deployed configuration for the breakover mechanism 200 is shownin FIG. 11 where the first and second links 207 and 208 are nonparallel.The deployed configuration of the breakover mechanism 200 may bedictated by the length of the rear slots 202.1. In some embodiments, thedeployed configuration of the breakover mechanism 200 may be dictated bythe range of motion of the seat back 20.

The breakover mechanism 200 may be reversible, such that the seat back20 may return to its original retracted configuration after thebreakover event. The seat back 20 may be pushed to its upright position(retracted configuration) and the spring 209 helps pull the first andsecond links 207 and 208 back to the retracted configuration (where thefirst and second links 207 and 208 are parallel to one another).

The components of the seat, the breakover mechanism 100, and/or thebreakover mechanism 200 may be formed of materials including, but notlimited to, carbon composite, plastic, thermoplastic, steel, aluminum,stainless steel, other plastic or polymer materials, other metallicmaterials, other composite materials, or other similar materials.Moreover, the components of the seat may be attached to one another viasuitable fasteners, which include, but are not limited to, screws,bolts, rivets or other mechanical or chemical fasteners.

In the following, further examples are described to facilitateunderstanding of aspects of the invention:

Example A

A breakover mechanism for a passenger seat comprising:

-   -   a frame member with a rear portion attached to two opposing        sides of a seat back of the passenger seat wherein the frame        member is at least partially disposed under a seat pan of the        passenger seat;    -   at least one moving portion attached to a forward portion of the        frame member;    -   a carriage portion fixedly attached to the seat pan; and    -   a single point mechanism attached to the carriage portion        wherein, once a threshold loading condition occurs, the single        point mechanism changes states to facilitate movement of the        moving portion relative to the carriage portion.

Example B

The breakover mechanism of Example A or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the threshold loading condition comprises acrash condition.

Example C

The breakover mechanism of Example A or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the single point mechanism comprises atension pin.

Example D

The breakover mechanism of Example C or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the tension pin comprises a first endattached to the carriage portion and a second end attached to the atleast one moving portion.

Example E

The breakover mechanism of Example C or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the tension pin comprises a notch and thetension pin changes states when the tension pin fails under a tensileload.

Example F

The breakover mechanism of Example C or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the at least one moving portion slides in afore/aft direction of the passenger seat relative to the carriageportion.

Example G

The breakover mechanism of Example F or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the carriage portion comprises protrusionsthat engage corresponding channels of the at least one moving portionsuch that the protrusions slide through the channels in the fore/afterdirection.

Example H

The breakover mechanism of Example A or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the at least one moving portion comprises alug fitting that engages a clevis fitting of the frame member.

Example I

The breakover mechanism of Example H or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the lug fitting comprises a sphericalbearing for engaging a pin attached to the clevis fitting.

Example J

The breakover mechanism of Example H or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein an engagement between the lug fitting andthe clevis fitting comprises a first primary fastener and a secondfailsafe fastener.

Example K

The breakover mechanism of Example A or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the single point mechanism comprises aninertia weight assembly.

Example L

The breakover mechanism of Example K or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the inertia weight assembly comprises apivoting arm, a weight disposed at a first end of the pivoting arm, aroller at a second end of the pivoting arm, and a pivot point disposedbetween the first end and the second end.

Example M

The breakover mechanism of Example L or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the inertia weight assembly changes stateswhen the weight moves forward due to the threshold loading condition andcausing the pivoting arm to rotate about the pivot point.

Example N

The breakover mechanism of Example K or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the at least one moving portion comprisestwo pivot arms that each rotate about a vertical axis of the passengerseat relative to the carriage portion.

Example O

The breakover mechanism of Example K or any of the preceding orsubsequent examples, wherein the at least one moving portion comprisestwo pivot arms that each comprise a rear slot that interfaces with theframe member.

Example P

A passenger seat comprising:

-   -   a seat back comprising an upper portion and a lower portion;    -   a seat pan; and    -   a breakover mechanism configured to facilitate rotation of the        seat back,    -   wherein the breakover mechanism comprises:        -   a frame member with a rear portion attached to two opposing            sides of the lower portion of the seat back wherein the            frame member is at least partially disposed under the seat            pan;        -   a slide rail attached to a forward portion of the frame            member;        -   a slide carriage fixedly attached to the seat pan; and        -   a tension pin attached to a rear side of the slide carriage            wherein, once a threshold loading condition occurs, the            tension pin changes states to facilitate movement of the            slide rail relative to the slide carriage.

Example Q

The passenger seat of Example P or any of the preceding or subsequentexamples, wherein the tension pin comprises a first end attached to theslide carriage and a second end attached to the slide rail.

Example R

The passenger seat of Example P or any of the preceding or subsequentexamples, wherein the tension pin comprises a notch and the tension pinchanges states when the tension pin fails under a tensile load.

Example S

A passenger seat comprising:

-   -   a seat back comprising an upper portion and a lower portion;    -   a seat pan; and    -   a breakover mechanism configured to facilitate rotation of the        seat back,    -   wherein the breakover mechanism comprises:        -   a frame member with a rear portion attached to two opposing            sides of the lower portion of the seat back wherein the            frame member is at least partially disposed under the seat            pan;        -   two pivot arms that are each attached to a forward portion            of the frame member;        -   a carriage frame fixedly attached to the seat pan; and        -   an inertia weight assembly attached to the carriage frame            wherein, once a threshold loading condition occurs, the            inertia weight assembly changes states to facilitate            movement of the two pivot arms relative to the carriage            frame.

Example T

The passenger seat of Example S or any of the preceding or subsequentexamples, wherein the inertia weight assembly comprises a pivoting arm,a weight disposed at a first end of the pivoting arm, a roller at asecond end of the pivoting arm, and a pivot point disposed between thefirst end and the second end.

Example U

The passenger seat of Example T or any of the preceding or subsequentexamples, wherein the inertia weight assembly changes states when theweight moves forward due to the threshold loading condition and causingthe pivoting arm to rotate about the pivot point.

Example V

The passenger seat of Example S or any of the preceding or subsequentexamples, wherein:

-   -   the breakover mechanism comprises a first link and a second        link; and    -   the breakover mechanism comprises a retracted configuration        where the first and second links are parallel with one another.

Example W

The passenger seat of Example V or any of the preceding or subsequentexamples, wherein the inertia weight assembly presses a hinge betweenthe first and second links to move the breakover mechanism from theretracted configuration to a deployed configuration where the first andsecond links are nonparallel with one another.

Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings ordescribed above, as well as components and steps not shown or describedare possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are usefuland may be employed without reference to other features andsub-combinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described forillustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodimentswill become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the presentinvention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depictedin the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the claims below.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A breakover mechanism for a passenger seatcomprising: a frame member with a rear portion attached to two opposingsides of a seat back of the passenger seat wherein the frame member isat least partially disposed under a seat pan of the passenger seat, theframe member comprising a clevis fitting; at least one moving portionattached to a forward portion of the frame member, the at least onemoving portion comprising a lug fitting; a carriage portion fixedlyattached to the seat pan; and a single point mechanism attached to thecarriage portion wherein, once a threshold loading condition occurs, thesingle point mechanism changes states to facilitate movement of themoving portion relative to the carriage portion, wherein: the lugfitting of the at least one moving portion engages the clevis fitting ofthe frame member; and the lug fitting comprises a spherical bearing forengaging a pin attached to the clevis fitting.
 2. The breakovermechanism of claim 1, wherein the threshold loading condition comprisesa crash condition.
 3. The breakover mechanism of claim 1, wherein thesingle point mechanism comprises a tension pin.
 4. The breakovermechanism of claim 3, wherein the tension pin comprises a first endattached to the carriage portion and a second end attached to the atleast one moving portion.
 5. The breakover mechanism of claim 3, whereinthe tension pin comprises a notch and the tension pin changes stateswhen the tension pin fails under a tensile load.
 6. The breakovermechanism of claim 3, wherein the at least one moving portion slides ina fore/aft direction of the passenger seat relative to the carriageportion.
 7. The breakover mechanism of claim 6, wherein the carriageportion comprises protrusions that engage corresponding channels of theat least one moving portion such that the protrusions slide through thechannels in the fore/aft direction.
 8. The breakover mechanism of claim1, wherein an engagement between the lug fitting and the clevis fittingcomprises a first primary fastener and a second failsafe fastener.
 9. Apassenger seat comprising: a seat back comprising an upper portion and alower portion; a seat pan; and a breakover mechanism configured tofacilitate rotation of the seat back, wherein the breakover mechanismcomprises: a frame member with a rear portion attached to two opposingsides of the lower portion of the seat back wherein the frame member isat least partially disposed under the seat pan; a slide rail attached toa forward portion of the frame member; a slide carriage fixedly attachedto the seat pan; and a tension pin attached to a rear side of the slidecarriage wherein, once a threshold loading condition occurs, the tensionpin changes states to facilitate movement of the slide rail relative tothe slide carriage, wherein the tension pin comprises a notch and thetension pin changes states when the tension pin fails under a tensileload.
 10. The passenger seat of claim 9, wherein the tension pincomprises a first end attached to the slide carriage and a second endattached to the slide rail.
 11. A breakover mechanism for a passengerseat comprising: a frame member with a rear portion attached to twoopposing sides of a seat back of the passenger seat wherein the framemember is at least partially disposed under a seat pan of the passengerseat, the frame member comprising a clevis fitting; at least one movingportion attached to a forward portion of the frame member, the at leastone moving portion comprising a lug fitting; a carriage portion fixedlyattached to the seat pan; and a single point mechanism comprising atension pin wherein the single point mechanism is attached to thecarriage portion wherein, once a threshold loading condition occurs, thesingle point mechanism changes states to facilitate movement of themoving portion relative to the carriage portion, wherein: the lugfitting of the at least one moving portion engages the clevis fitting ofthe frame member; the at least one moving portion slides in a fore/aftdirection of the passenger seat relative to the carriage portion; andthe carriage portion comprises protrusions that engage correspondingchannels of the at least one moving portion such that the protrusionsslide through the channels in the fore/aft direction.
 12. The breakovermechanism of claim 11, wherein the tension pin comprises a first endattached to the carriage portion and a second end attached to the atleast one moving portion.
 13. The breakover mechanism of claim 11,wherein the tension pin comprises a notch and the tension pin changesstates when the tension pin fails under a tensile load.
 14. Thebreakover mechanism of claim 11, wherein an engagement between the lugfitting and the clevis fitting comprises a first primary fastener and asecond failsafe fastener.
 15. A breakover mechanism for a passenger seatcomprising: a frame member with a rear portion attached to two opposingsides of a seat back of the passenger seat wherein the frame member isat least partially disposed under a seat pan of the passenger seat, theframe member comprising a clevis fitting; at least one moving portionattached to a forward portion of the frame member, the at least onemoving portion comprising a lug fitting; a carriage portion fixedlyattached to the seat pan; and a single point mechanism attached to thecarriage portion wherein, once a threshold loading condition occurs, thesingle point mechanism changes states to facilitate movement of themoving portion relative to the carriage portion, wherein: the lugfitting of the at least one moving portion engages the clevis fitting ofthe frame member; and an engagement between the lug fitting and theclevis fitting comprises a first primary fastener and a second failsafefastener.
 16. The breakover mechanism of claim 15, wherein the singlepoint mechanism comprises a tension pin.
 17. The breakover mechanism ofclaim 16, wherein the tension pin comprises a first end attached to thecarriage portion and a second end attached to the at least one movingportion.
 18. The breakover mechanism of claim 16, wherein the tensionpin comprises a notch and the tension pin changes states when thetension pin fails under a tensile load.
 19. The breakover mechanism ofclaim 16, wherein the at least one moving portion slides in a fore/aftdirection of the passenger seat relative to the carriage portion. 20.The breakover mechanism of claim 19, wherein the carriage portioncomprises protrusions that engage corresponding channels of the at leastone moving portion such that the protrusions slide through the channelsin the fore/aft direction.